I have been neglectful. I'm sorry. Once the program ended I got to go on a very exciting road trip with my parents all over the place. It was beautiful and fun and an interesting experience. I got back to the United States December 14th, and it felt good to be home. Weird, but good.
Christmas break was good. Very full, very busy, but good. We had many guests-- Mary's friends Mark and Benjamin, Margaret and her husband, Randall, Mary, and cousin Jacob. Christmas was fun and great this year. Everyone went above and beyond and the gifts were incredible. There literally was not a single present I didn't like. I loved them all. The day was full of coffee cake and movies and it was, for the first time since the 1920's, a white Christmas in Dallas, Texas. It was beautiful.
I didn't visit many friends over break, I saw Antoinette maybe twice. She, Ian, and I ate at Macaroni Grill (Ian's choice...) one night after Christmas, before i had to drive back to Utah. It was fun, we drew on the tablecloth and Anto and I split spaghetti. On January 1st, after a fun new years of food and laid-backness, Dad and I drove me and all my stuff out to school. The drive was long and hard, as usual. It always seems longer in the winter time. Maybe that's because I'm consistently approaching a colder and colder environment.
I'm living in a new apartment complex this semester. Its pretty fun. I have three roommates, and they're actually pretty fun. Its nice to live with people for once. I've had some pretty bad luck in the past. This semester has already been completely filled with activities. Angela, my close friend, entered the MTC to go on a mission for our church. She's going to Panama and I know she'll be amazing. Kelsey and I have had many reunions already. We watched all the Lord of the Rings (thankfully..) gotten a chicken biscuit breakfast (twice?), gone to Diego's, gone grocery shopping, and watched "Holiday in the Sun" by MK and Ash. Its everything I could've hoped for and more. I live across from two good friends, so I also get to visit Rebekah and Evann at least once a week. Evann and I talk about our friends, who are mostly all on missions, and Jane Austen. Rebekah and I watch Man vs. Wild and do our laundry and eat rolls.
Speaking of rolls, I'm on a new kick this year. For the past year or two I've really tried polishing myself up. I think it's going pretty well. I'm trying really really REALLY hard not to bite my nails. I've been trying to work out more regularly and am trying to sign up for a Brazilian Dance class. I walk to school everyday. I've been doing my homework and actually going to classes. 2010 is sort of my year. I turn 22 and thus, it's my golden birthday. I can't wait. This year also marks the return of my good friend Jacob M. He's the best. Also to return this year: Jacob K., Justin, and Brian. It will be so much fun to have almost all my freshman year friends back on campus. They've been gone for almost two years now. In about 5 months they will all be back in the US. I'm so excited.
In other catching up news, I decided not to do another study abroad. I was thinking of going to Sweden or Fiji this summer, but I prayed about it, and my parents prayed about it, and I felt that next year would be better. It just didn't feel like 100% the best thing to do. So, instead of going somewhere, I will stay here. I'll go home for spring term, and come back and take a few classes and get a job summer term. It will be good. I've heard it's fun here in the summer time and I'm hoping that proves true. Hopefully my hard work will have paid off and I won't be 100% embarrassed to wear a swimsuit. Let's see.
Not much other news! Had a Vienna reunion party, which was fun. I'm an FHE mom, so that's fun. I go to the temple once a week, and I really love it. I love the temple. Also am working on finding a good volunteer opportunity. I think that something with the elderly or tutoring kids would be best. I like people-to-people projects. Here's hoping!